The Iglesia de la Merced, located in the streets of Víctor Manuel Rendón and Pedro Carbo, is one of the heritage buildings in the center of Guayaquil that attracts attention with its architecture and neo-Gothic style. It looks impressive from the outside, and in the inventory of the National Institute for Cultural Heritage it has a solid state of preservation. The reality is different, even the parish priest, Daniel Vélez, warns of the risk that the roof could fall and cause a “terrible accident”.

Rains, earthquakes and the passage of time – it was built between 1934 and 1936 – are visible on the terrace, domes and floors, where the slab peels away to reveal rusted metal bars. The earthquake on April 25 caused a crack that separates the basilica from the neighboring building, the priest points out.

The city municipality registered 550 heritage properties. Of these, less than 15 buildings have problems, according to information dated April 19, 2023. The parish priest claims that the church is not on that list and admits that they do not have the funds to repair the temple.

A year ago, part of the Casa Tola building, another heritage building, collapsed. A facade covered with a white awning, on Calle Escobedo and 9 de Octubre, announces the risk of walking below.

The current owner of the property built in 1918 requests that the Council be removed from the heritage list for intervention, and the Municipality reminded that it requested this on October 6, 2022, and sought answers from the ministries of finance and culture in order to determine where it will come from, funds for maintenance and restoration of the value of local heritage.

The situation becomes complex. Heritage buildings preserve history and beauty. They are highly valued in the world, while in Ecuador they are being destroyed without the interest of the state, despite the fact that apart from the historical decline, the collapse can also mean the loss of life. The Government and councils are responsible for supervision and protection. (OR)